Health Risks of a Flooded Carpet

Take the time to protect your family by making sure your carpet isn’t making you sick. Even if your carpets appear clean, they can be a host for bacteria, microbes, and other irritants.

Carpet water damage, mold and black mold in the carpet can develop anytime your carpet has become wet and stayed wet for a while without the opportunity to dry out thoroughly. If your home had some flooding and the carpet was damp for more than 24 hours, you probably have some mold in your carpets. Mold in your home carries many health risks and can be a great deal of work to clean up.

How Can My Carpet Be Saved After a Flood?

If your carpet was flooded with contaminated water, you will need professionals to clean it for you like our team at ServiceMaster of the Upstate, a storm damage restoration company in Spartanburg, South  Carolina. 

• The professionals will extract all the water using advanced techniques and if necessary they will use weighted extraction for underneath the carpet.

•  After, they will apply antimicrobial agents to sanitize the carpet and steam clean and deodorize.

Salvaging your carpet after a flood will save you so much more money than replacing it. If you are looking for professional help, then  ServiceMaster of the Upstate is at your service! Our experienced technicians will solve all your flood damage in Spartanburg problems and offer structural drying services in Spartanburg. 

Health Risks of Mold 

Black mold, technically known as Stachybotrys chartarum, carries many known health risks, which is why you don’t want it in your carpet. Health risks of black mold in your carpet include:

• difficulty breathing
• frequent respiratory infections
• asthma attacks
• development of asthma in people previously not diagnosed with the condition
• coughing
• sneezing
• itchy, watery eyes
• headaches
• depression

Health risks of Stachybotrys chartarum are of greater concern for some people than others. 

Who are at risk at health problems? 

• Infants
• Young children 
• Elderly
• Pregnant women, 
• Anyone with a history of respiratory problems like asthma 
• People with compromised immune systems

The main risk when carpet floods is mold. Mold smells terrible, and can cause adverse health effects. Some molds can produce toxins. It is essential that we do not allow mold to grow or exist in our indoor living areas. While mold exists everywhere in our environment, excessive moisture causes mold to multiply quickly.

Best Way To Remove Mold 

The best option for you when it comes to the carpet is to call the professionals. They will help you avoid these risks and keep your carpet clean and tidy.

ServiceMaster of the Upstate will give you a free assessment, recommendations, and valuable advice along with their estimate. They may also find some additional mold you didn’t even know was in your home. If you see visible mold on any porous materials like drywall, wood, or personal possessions it is extremely likely that you need the professional mold remediation services and storm damage restoration experts of ServiceMaster of the Upstate. 

Proper storm damage restoration will save your property and prevent health risks. ServiceMaster of the Upstate is  24/7 ready for storm damage restoration services. We are ready to help you move past a flood, and turn the damaged areas back into a valuable part of your home. Call us now.

How to Deal With a Flooded Property this Hurricane Season

When faced with flood damage in Spartanburg property this Hurricane season whom do you call? Many property owners call their insurance company since they purchased insurance to protect their home, so why not get their advice on how best to minimize the damages? But who should be the very first call after emergency services you should make in the event of: 

• Water damage  
• Mold removal  
• Fire damage  
• Storm damage 

Storms and Hurricane Damage 

ServiceMaster of the Upstate is the largest restoration company in  South Carolina, with the most experienced expert team and equipment available to help in any emergency situation, 24 hours a day. We help residential and commercial clients as well and know that if your property suffers damage or loss nothing is more important than getting your property back to normal efficiently and quickly. We offer: 

• Water and Storm Damage Restoration Spartanburg
• Structural Drying Spartanburg

How to deal with a flooded property this hurricane season:

Before the flood checklist:

• Exterior
  • Elevate & protect low-level/outdoor machinery
  • Move outdoor furniture, signs and other objects inside; anchor heavier objects
  • Install dry flood protection materials (floodgates, sandbags, tarps, etc.)
• Interior
  • Shut off electrical service if system and outlets could possibly be underwater
  • Elevate and protect low-placed equipment by placing it on masonry blocks or concrete
  • Roll up area rugs & get them off the floor to reduce mold and mildew
  • Elevate all office electronics such as computers and printers
    
    

After flood checklist:

• Take pictures of the damage and contact your insurance agent
• When safe to do so, disconnect all affected electronics and electrical equipment and move it to a dry location
• Ventilate with fans or use dehumidifiers to dry out interior spaces
• Quickly remove standing water and water-damaged materials
• Protect your property from further damage by boarding up windows and salvaging undamaged items
• Calling the professional water and storm damage restoration company.

Restore the Life You’ve Built with ServiceMaster of the Upstate

With ServiceMaster of the Upstate in Spartanburg, South Carolina, one call does it all. What that means to you as a happy customer, is that we can assist you with our resources to minimize the damage on any storm-related problems. 

We perform emergency water extractions 24 hours a day 7 days a week and can dry out wet building materials with our state of the art and updated drying equipment and techniques. Don’t pay a dime, we will bill your insurance company directly. 

Our staff is trained on the use of thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters and certified by the IICRC. 

Our restoration experts are standing by to provide storm damage restoration to return the property to a pre-loss condition. We can help you determine the full extent of the damage and perform services following industry standards and best practices. Call us today. 

How to Stay Safe When a Thunderstorm Threatens

Preparation for the hurricane season varies from year to year since hurricanes come in different strengths. Preparation must include Safety-related awareness always, and with hurricanes come thunderstorms most of the time, so it’s important to bear in mind some safety measures when thunderstorms and lightning strikes threaten you. 

Normally, you can hear thunder about ten miles from a storm, and since lightning can strike more than ten miles out from a thunderstorm, the sound of thunder means you’re close enough to be struck.

Hurricane Preparation

• Always have enough for your emergency water, food, and medical supplies. The preparation for what’s to come is very important.
• Review and make an inventory of your hurricane preparation lists. Check your essentials like masks, plastic gloves, hand sanitizers, soaps, and medications.
• You can protect and reduce your exposure  to viruses by limiting in-person visits from online deliveries, especially for your medical supplies. If available, you can sign-up for mail order delivery, or use drive-through windows or curbside pickup when you receive your goods or items. 
• With the COVID-19 pandemic going on, always remember to put your mask on using plastic gloves when handling products or items for safety purposes.    
• Get updated with local guidance and protocols on evacuation information, including shelters, maps, and even shelters for your pets.   

 

In The Event of Flooding

• Take refuge from high winds in a designated storm shelter or an interior room. If your home is located on a higher level that floodwaters can’t reach, you can store essentials  and stay there until the flooding subsides.
• If you are in a building, avoid being trapped by going to its highest level. Do not climb in a closed attic; you might be trapped by rising floodwaters.
• Do not swim, walk, or drive through flooded waters. Better be safe than sorry. You can read more on floodwater safety by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
• Stay in contact with your trusted company for Flood Damage in Newberry. 

 

Staying Safe After a Hurricane

• After the passing of a storm, when returning home and power is available, do not start all major appliances at once. Gradually turn them on to reduce damage to sensitive household equipment. 
• Read and follow post-storm safety precautions to protect your house and your family from hazards and contamination. Always be informed and be prepared.
• Document the damage done by the hurricane. Take pictures or videos,  it may be necessary for insurance purposes or for reference in case of future hurricanes.
• As recommended, follow social distancing rules, staying away at least 6 feet or about 2 arms’ length from others. Just be always cautious  when talking to other people. Try to avoid people who you suspect might be sick to safeguard your health.
• Listen to authorities and weather forecasts for information on whether it is safe to go outside and instructions regarding potential flash flooding.
• Watch out for fallen power lines and trees. Report them immediately.
• If there is severe damage in your home or business, immediately call an expert for Storm Damage Restoration in Newberry. In case of drying your wet items or property, you can also request for Structural Drying in Newberry.

It’s better if we prepare our home and business for emergencies. If your home will be damaged by flooding, call experts for water removal in Newberry. If it’s your business that is damaged by flooding, then you can contact a water damage company in Newberry, ServiceMaster of the Upstate. 

Call ServiceMaster of the Upstate at (864) 310-7891 for a 24-hour emergency service in South Carolina. We are serving Greenville, Spartanburg, Laurens, Newberry, Saluda, and surrounding areas and counties.

Top Tips When Preparing Your Hurricane Safety Kit in the time of a Pandemic

Hurricanes and Pandemic? What a combo. But it can happen. We are going through challenging times these days with the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic or also known as COVID-19.

COVID-19 is likely to be with us for a long time, and that is why we must prepare a little differently for other disasters that may affect our communities. It is difficult to think about, but other disasters like hurricanes can still strike.

Hurricanes are strong storms that can be life-threatening, as well as cause serious hazards such as flooding, storm surges, high winds, and tornadoes. Over the past years, there were a couple of deadly hurricanes that passed and left a scar to affected families. Now that we have this COVID-19 pandemic, how do we deal with hurricane preparedness?

Preparing for the Hurricane Season

• Understand that your planning may be different this year because of the need to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
• With the public warnings issued by the government, use this to give yourself more time than usual to prepare your emergency food, water, and medical supplies. Home delivery is the safest choice for buying disaster supplies; however, that may not be an option for everyone. If in-person shopping is your only choice, take steps to protect your and other's health when running essential errands.
• If you need medicine, sign up for mail-order delivery or call in your prescription ahead of time and use drive-through windows or curbside pickup, if available. 
• Pay attention to local guidance about updated plans for evacuations and shelters, including potential shelters for your pets if you have any. It’s best to be always updated about this so that you will know where to go if the situation gets worse.
• If you need to evacuate, prepare a kit with personal items you cannot do without during an emergency. Include items that can help protect you and others from COVID-19, such as hand sanitizer, or bar or liquid soap if not available, and two cloth face masks for each person. There should be enough face masks for each member of your family so that everyone will be protected.
• Follow social distancing recommendations when checking on your neighbors and friends. It is recommended to stay at least 6 feet or about 2 arms' length from others.
• If you need to go to a disaster shelter provided you practice safety regulations imposed by the local authorities to avoid being infected by the virus.
• Keep a Water Damage Restoration Service Greenville contact number handy. In case of water damage, it’s best if you keep one. We’ll never know what destruction hurricanes can bring. 

As much as we want hurricanes not to happen, we believe that they are inevitable. So it’s better if we prepare our home and business for the worst. If your home will be damaged by the hurricane, call experts for content cleaning from water damage in Greenville. If it’s your business that is damaged by the hurricane, then you can contact a Commercial Water Damage Services in Greenville. 

Call ServiceMaster of the Upstate at (864) 310-7891 for  24-hour emergency service in South Carolina. We are serving Greenville, Spartanburg, Laurens, Newberry, Saluda, and surrounding areas and counties.